This morning, a deceptive article, that looked very real, appeared in our news feed with the headline: “Supporters gather for Howie Mandel’s release after scandalous interview.” The page looked identical to CBC’s website, same font, colour scheme, and layout, but there was one major red flag: the URL was “ca.implycrashfirm.world” instead of CBC’s official “cbc.radio-canada.ca” page.
This is a classic phishing scam. Here’s how it works:
- Fake Credibility: The scammers mimic a trusted news source to make the article seem legitimate.
- Clickbait Headline: They use a well-known celebrity like Howie Mandel to grab attention.
- Financial Lure: The article promoted “Starlight Stakemarket,” a high-risk, questionable investment scheme. https://www.scamadviser.com/check-website/starlight-stakemarket.ca
- Manipulated Images: The pictures in the article were actually screenshots from an old Jimmy Kimmel Live interview, Howie Mandel never mentioned “Starlight Stakemarket” at all here’s the link to the Interview. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4xd6f6Sxo8
- As well, the headline picture used in the article was a photoshoped (morphed) picture that was take during a protest here in Canada. Here’s the original picture
So What can you do to help prevent being sucked in by these well designed phishing sites?
- Check the URL: If it’s not the official website, it’s likely a scam.
- Verify with other sources: If a major news event happens, multiple reputable news outlets will cover it.
- Be wary of financial promises: If an article claims you can “make thousands with a small investment,” it’s a red flag.
- Teach your kids to be skeptical online: Encourage them to question what they see, hear, and read—not everything online is real.
Always be “SUS” online! Scammers rely on people trusting what they see without checking the facts, don’t let them win.
Digital Food For Thought
The White Hatter
Facts Not Fear, Facts Not Emotions, Enlighten Not Frighten, Know Tech Not No Tech
